Is using SQL in an embedded computer application like trying to squeeze an ELEPHANT into a MINI?

According to Wikipedia’s entry entitled “Elephant joke”, there’s an old one that goes like this:

Q. How many elephants will fit into a Mini?
A. Four: two in the front, two in the back.

Q. How many giraffes will fit into a Mini?
A. None. It’s full of elephants.

Of course, if it is possible to get four elephants into a Mini then it must be pretty easy to get one in. In which case, there must also be no problem using SQL in an embedded computer application! But, even if one does succeed in getting the elephant into the car, the added weight will certainly have a significant negative impact on its speed. Such is the opinion of many—including me—on the advisability of using SQL in an embedded database application.